Winter 2010 - Bishop's University

football teams of ’54, ’55 & ’56
join RBC Wall of Distinction
In the fall of 1954 a group of aspiring footballers
gathered on a rudimentary football field to meet
their new coach, a local businessman and former
Alouette named Gordon “Beef” Ross. Little did we
realize he would mould them into a combination that
won the championship three years running and was
undefeated in '54, with no touchdowns allowed, and
'55. They lost only one of 18 games in three seasons.
The team had no more than 25 players in a season
and only 40 during the three-year period in a student
population of under 300 (that's over 1800 today). It
should also be mentioned the players had but one
uniform for the season.
The fifties were characterized by a period of stable
growth and adjustment after WWII. In fact at our
40 th reunion we were looked upon as the "silent
generation" going about our lives with no great fuss.
As a result, the accomplishments of these teams
faded into the distant past as the University grew and
sports took on a more professional form.
Garth Smith and Bob Burt '57 started the process
to bring the team of 1954 to the Wall. John Pratt '58
and Hugh MacDonald '58 pursued it, encouraging
the committee to add the teams of '55 and '56 and
putting in great effort to locate surviving members. As
it turned out, 40% have died but their relatives were
contacted and invited to participate where possible.
I didn’t play football at Bishop’s but was an
Photo: Perry Beaton '72
back row: Sam Poaps ’57, John Rider ’57, Dave Lethbridge ’57, Brad Mitchell ’57, John Pratt ’58, Andy
Davis ’59, John Matthews ’57. middle row: Toby Rochester ’57, Ian Warnock ’65, Ralph Burt ’60, Glyn
Edwards ’57, Gordon “Beef” Ross (coach), Jim Fullerton ’58, Laurie Hart ’59, Bob Burt ’57, Dave Moore
front row: Ray Ball ’57, Dick Fletcher ’57, Hugh MacDonald ’58
enthusiastic supporter. When invited to join the
celebration, I jumped at the chance. It allowed me
to reconnect with friends of 50+ years back and to
represent the family of my friend Don “Lump” Acres
'57 who died tragically in a car accident 50 years ago.
Our silent generation roared to life on October
23-25. Festivities began Friday night at Sebby’s in
Lennoxville. The next day we gathered at the Sports
Centre where the three teams were introduced and
formally unveiled on the RBC Wall of Distinction. The
presence of “Beef” Ross, 87 years old, resplendent in
his Alouette sweater, was a highlight.
After a tailgate lunch we sat in the stands to watch
the Gaiters beat the Montreal Carabins 21-16. Quite
a change from our day with a proper grandstand,
artificial turf, and of course more than one uniform for
the season. At half time our players were introduced
to the crowd to acclamation despite the rain.
In the evening we enjoyed cocktails and dinner in
the Cleghorn Common Room. The Reverend Canon
David Lethbridge ’57, team manager and one of the
few Divines to play football in our era, gave the grace.
Laurie Hart '59 (of legendary kicking skill) led the
presentation for the 1954 team, Hugh MacDonald for
1955 and John Rider '57 (who mentioned wrong way
Davis) for 1956.
Garth and Bob spoke briefly on the era, followed by
John quoting from a piece written by Andy Little '57,
Players on the teams
of '54, '55 & '56:
Coach: Gordon "Beef" Ross
Don Acres, Ray Ayoup,
Richard Berryman, Peter
Blaikie, Bob Burt, Ralph
Burt, Bill Carsley, Andy Davis,
John de la Vergne, John
Douglas, Glyn Edwards, Dick
Fletcher, Jim Fullerton, Murray
Greenwood, Laurie Hart, Bob
Haslett, Bob Home, Tony
Hungerbuhler, Dexter Jolley,
Dave Lethbridge, John Lummis,
Wally Lynch, Hugh MacDonald,
John Matthews, Bob McHarg,
Brad Mitchell, Dave Moore, Jim
Murdoch, Sam Poaps, Nick
Powell, John Pratt, John Rider,
Toby Rochester, Andy Ross,
David Seaborn, Bob Sinclair,
Sandy Sinclair, Edgar Smith,
Don Stringer, Ian Warnock
Managers: Jim Keith, Ray Ball
who was the sports reporter for
The Campus and The Record.
While he and cheerleader
Dolce '56 were unable to
attend, cheerleaders Nancy
Pond '57, Allison Perry, '56
Sandy Currie '58 and Nancy
Shepard '57 joined the fun.
A real surprise at the
close was Glyn Edwards '57
announcing that team members
had donated $50,000 to fund
football scholarships.
A further surprise was a
donation of $13,000 from Tim
Rider to athletic scholarships
– to honour his father John's
induction as well as his family's
long history in the Townships
and with the University.
All things must end, so we
gathered again at Sebby’s on
Sunday morning for a brunch
organized by John Pratt –
before going our separate
ways, happy to have shared this
experience.
Bryan Walker '57
20 BISHOP'S UNIVERSITY NEWS WINTER 2010